DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Local Government Finance

Nick Raynsford: I am publishing today figures showing that English councils have collected an extra £40 million in council taxes this year. The tables are available in both Libraries of the House. They can also be found at the website of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, http://www.odpm.gov.uk/.
	The figures demonstrate the continuing success of a joint initiative launched in 2001 by the Government and the Local Government Association (LGA) to help poorly performing councils improve their collection rates.
	The council taxes and non-domestic rates collection results 2002–03 show that English councils had collected £14.09 billion in council taxes by the end of March 2003. The figures represent 96.4 per cent. of the £14.62 billion collectable. This is an increase of 0.3 percentage points on top of the previous year's increase of 0.3 percentage points.
	I am very pleased local authorities are continuing to improve their collection of council tax. By working in partnership with the LGA we have been able to support councils in their efforts. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will continue this partnership in particular with the development of a Good Practices Guide for local authorities.
	It is important councils keep up their good work. The money collected for council tax is spent on essential public services and unpaid taxes create a burden for those residents who do pay.
	The councils showing the best improvements in their performance included some of those that had previously had the lowest collection rates, such as Hackney, which improved its collection rate from 74 per cent. during 2001–02 to 79.5 per cent. this year—an increase of 5.5 percentage points; Torridge, which improved its collection rate from 92.1 per cent. during 2001–02 to 97.1 per cent. this year—an increase of 5.0 percentage points; and Lambeth, which improved its collection rate from 86.5 per cent during 2001–02 to 90.1 per cent. this year—an increase of 3.6 percentage points.
	Other improving councils included Newham (increase of 3.2 percentage points), Leicester (increase of 3 percentage points), Derby and Eastbourne (increase of 2.5 percentage points) and Haringey and Waltham Forest (increase of 2.4 percentage points).
	In addition, collection rates for non-domestic rates (business rates) were released today. Figures show that £14.89 billion in non-domestic rates for 2002–03 had been collected by the end of March. This represents 98.2 per cent. of the £15.17 billion collectable, an improvement of 0.3 percentage points on last year.
	Additionally, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has collected information on the level of arrears outstanding. Total gross arrears in England for council tax as at 31 March 2003 are estimated to have been £1.5 billion. Estimated total gross arrears figures for England at the end of March 2003 for non-domestic rates and community charge are also available. These total £0.7 billion and £0.1 billion respectively.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Home Office Strategic Framework

David Blunkett: I have today published a summary of the Home Office Strategic Framework. This document provides the context for the work of the Department, now and in the future. It sets out emerging challenges and opportunities and the role of the Home Office in contributing to the wider priorities of Government. The document shows that as we strive to build a safe, just and tolerant society, two themes run throughout the Home Office's work—effective enforcement of law, order and our borders; and civil renewal, social inclusion and active citizenship.
	Copies of the Strategic Framework are available in the House Libraries and on the Home Office website.

Independent Police Complaints Commission

David Blunkett: I am pleased to announce that I have appointed John Wadham and Claire Gilham to be the first Deputy Chairs of the Independent Police Complaints Commission along with 15 Commissioners.
	They are:
	
		
			 Newly AppointedCommissioner Current Position 
		
		
			 Claire Gilham(Deputy Chair) Lecturer, Deputy District Judge, Lay Chair NHS Complaints procedure, Board Member of Muir Group Housing Association, Chair of Statutory enquiries, Northwest region and Member of the Mental Health Act Commission.  
			 John Wadham(Deputy Chair) Director of Liberty.  
			 Ian Bynoe First Deputy Chair of the Police Complaints Authority.  
			 John Crawley Chief Executive of FCH Housing and Care (a Midlands housing, social care and regeneration agency). Chair of a NHS Primary Care Trust.  
			 Tom Davies Director for Wales, the Prince's Trust. 
			 Mike Franklin Assistant inspector with a portfolio for race and diversity within HM Inspectorate of Constabularies.  
			 Gary Garland Currently a Trial Attorney with the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia dealing with serious breaches of international law. He has previous experience as an international prosecutor and a senior prosecution lawyer and a former member of the Bar Council.  
			 Deborah Glass Currently PCA Member and previously Chief Executive of the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation.  
			 Len Jackson Currently Chair of the East Midlands Sports Board. He was previously Managing Director of Amelca plc and Pork Farms (Northern Foods plc). He has chaired voluntarily New Deal Employer Coalition and Common Purpose, an Educational Charity.  
			 Nicholas Long Trustee for NACRO, Surveyor and member of Metropolitan Police Authority where he is Deputy Chair of Finance Committee and member of Operation Trident Independent Advisory Group.  
			 Laurence Lustgarten Professor of Law at University of Southampton, occasional lecturer to the judiciary and police service, member of the Advisory Council of the Kurdish Human Rights project.  
			 Naseem Malik Head of Legal Service at Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council.  
			 Rebecca Marsh Operations Manager at Guidance Accreditation Board and Deputy Chair of Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust. Previously a regional lay Chair for NHS Complaints.  
			 Mehmuda Mian Pritchard PCA Member and non-executive director of the NHS Litigation Authority and Friend of ASRA Housing Association.  
			 David Fetch PCA Member. 
			 Amerdeep Somal Prosecution team leader at the CPS and Secretary of Roshni Asian  
			  Woman's Refuge Management Committee.  
			 Nicola Williams Barrister and PCA Member. 
		
	
	The IPCC will commence in April 2004, replacing the Police Complaints Authority, and will operate according to the powers and duties provided to it by the Police Reform Act 2002. It will be responsible for the effective and efficient running of the police complaints system.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Paul Murphy: I have received the annual report for 2002–03 of the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, which is being presented to Parliament as a Command Paper today.
	Copies of the report are available from the Vote Office and the Library of the House.

Forensic Science

John Spellar: I am announcing Forensic Science Northern Ireland's 2003–04 key targets and the publication of its corporate plan 2003–06 and annual business plan 2003–04.
	The following key targets were set for Forensic Science Northern Ireland in 2003–04. Quality of Service
	To turnaround 85 per cent. of reports in which a file is required to be submitted to the DPP within the notified time scale.
	Quality of Science
	Maintain a quality management system that is externally validated to the international standard ISO 17025.
	Financial Performance
	To continue to recover from customers the full cash cost of the services to them.
	Results
	By 31 March 2004 to agree and initiate a major programme of organisational development, guided and informed by the outcome of the Trading Fund Scoping Study (to report in summer 2003).
	Achievement against these key targets will be recorded in the agency's annual report for 2003–04, which will be published in July 2004.
	FSNI has published a summary of its corporate plan 2003–06 and annual business plan 2003–04, which explain its business and organisation, describe its key targets for 2003–04 and set out the assumptions about workloads and resources that support its planned activities. Copies of the summary plans have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. Copies will be available to the public from FSNI or on the FSNI website.

Forensic Science (Annual Report)

John Spellar: I have today published the Forensic Science Northern Ireland annual report 2001–02. The annual reports set out performance of the agency against key targets. Copies of the report have today been laid in the House.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Arms Embargoes

Bill Rammell: The Government remains committed to the OSCE arms embargo against both Azerbaijan and Armenia, which we interpret as covering all goods and technology controlled under entries in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 (commonly known as the military list).
	In June 2003, the Government approved an export licence application for de-mining equipment for the HALO Trust for de-mining operations in Armenia.
	The decision was made in accordance with our practice occasionally to make an exemption to our interpretation of the embargo by approving exports of non-lethal military goods to humanitarian, media or peacekeeping organisations where it is clear that the embargo was not intended to prevent those exports and there is a strong humanitarian case for them.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

"Building Schools for the Future"

David Miliband: On 26 February, I made a statement about the Government's proposals for a new approach to capital investment, "Building Schools for the Future". The proposals are to:
	Continue existing, successful capital programmes for primary and secondary schools; but use the extra capital investment available in 2005–06 for a major programme of secondary school building;
	Collaborate better with other capital funders to create schools that are community assets;
	Target the extra capital investment on geographical areas, covering groups of schools;
	Develop exemplar designs to ensure consistently high standards of design for all new schools; and
	Establish a new national body to support local authorities in ensuring that new schools are well designed, built on time, offer value for money to the taxpayer, and properly maintained over their lives.
	We consulted widely on these proposals and received 1,141 responses by the close of consultation on 31 May. We also held six consultation meetings across England to listen to the views of schools, local education authorities, dioceses, local learning and skills councils, and others with an interest.
	Four-fifths of respondents agree the time is right to approach capital investment in a new way to build schools of the future. This level of support, which extends across schools, local authorities, and the design and construction industries, means we can push ahead with reform. We need to rebuild and refurbish our secondary schools on a much larger scale, not just patch and mend worn-out buildings.
	We will also look carefully at the availability and balance of capital funding across the system, so that there is significant investment to address the urgent building needs of primary schools and secondary schools that are not included in the early phases of "Building Schools for the Future".
	Local authorities and local people will play a central role in drawing together this new approach. "Building Schools for the Future" is about Government supporting the delivery of local educational visions, and the proposed new national body will be designed to offer technical support to assist local partnerships deliver their strategies.
	The new approach will also help central and local government plan together over the long-term and improve on the old culture of annual, win-lose bidding.
	We must ensure we have a standard of school that our young people deserve, inspirational well-designed schools to motivate teaching and learning, and up-to-date facilities to enable us to compete as a world-class economy in the 21st century.
	My Department is writing today to all local education authorities, and to those who either responded to the consultation or attended one of the regional consultation meetings. We are announcing the consultation results, and confirming our intention to proceed with our plans. We hope to issue to local education authorities in July detailed guidance on how to access funding under "Building Schools for the Future".
	Thirty copies of this letter, the summary of consultation responses, and a report on the regional events will be placed in the Library.

DEFENCE

Police Agency (Key Targets)

Ivor Caplin: Key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency for financial year 2003–04. The targets are as follows:
	Key Target 1:
	To achieve at least 65 per cent. patrol activity from those officers devoted to patrolling.
	Key Target 2:
	To achieve a crime solving rate of 48 per cent. for the investigation of primary crime and maintain a 60 per cent. solving rate for the investigation of all crime by 31 March 2004.
	Key Target 3:
	By 31 March 2004, to ensure that the Force fulfils at least 95 per cent. of its agreed customer taskings at those establishments where the Force undertakes security related taskings.
	Key Target 4:
	Using the system established in 2002–03, measure and evaluate MDP's effective contribution to security at those establishments where the force undertakes security related tasks, and seek to maintain and improve upon the baseline figure achieved in the previous quarter at individual establishments.
	Key Target 5:
	By 31 March 2004, within the overall recruitment to the Force, to have recruited at least 15 per cent. women and at least 6 per cent. from minority ethnic communities. Key Target 6:
	By 31 March 2004, excepting unforeseen operational commitments, to reduce the amount of overtime worked by each officer to no more than 32 hours overtime worked on the core programme of CSA-agreed tasks per 28 day period averaged over a 17 week period.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Foot and Mouth

Ben Bradshaw: I have arranged for copies of Defra's response to the report by consultants DNV into the health and environmental impacts of Defra's foot and mouth disease site at Throckmorton to be made available in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Copies are also available on the Defra website athttp://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/regions/wmidlands/wmidlands.htm
	The Department has sent copies of its response to the elected representatives to whom DNV sent their report.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Draft Mental Incapacity Bill

David Lammy: My Department will announce tomorrow the publication of a draft Bill on Mental Incapacity (CM 5859). This draft Bill proposes ways to empower and protect vulnerable adults who find it difficult to make their own decisions. It would also promote choice by enabling people to appoint someone they trust to manage all their financial, welfare and healthcare affairs if they should lose capacity in the future.
	The draft Bill will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee of both Houses, which intends to report later this year. This will provide an opportunity to listen to people's views and ensure that our proposals would work in practice.
	Copies of the announcement and draft Bill will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses, the Vote Office and the Printed paper Office. The announcement and draft Bill will also be made available on the Department for Constitutional Affairs website at http://www.lcd.gov.uk/